STARS AND PINSTRIPES:Yankees players, coaches and ownership show their appreciation for the men and women in uniform yesterday in West Point, with Mariano Rivera (above), owner Hal Steinbrenner, Mark Teixeira and Joba Chamberlain posing for photos and greeting Army baseball players and cadets before an exhibition game at Rupert H. Johnson Stadium.

WEST POINT — The Yankees are well aware of the doomsday scenarios being painted by the media and the legion of self-loathing fans.

To them, it’s nothing but noise.

Too many star players on the disabled list. Not enough star power to replace them. Heck, first baseman Lyle Overbay was picked up off the street in the final week of spring training after being released by the Red Sox. Too much age on the pitching staff.

Third place seems to be the popular resting place for the Yankees in the AL East and a second dark October since 2008.

“I understand, right now with what we are going through it’s easy to say [the Yankees] are down and out,’’ general manager Brian Cashman said yesterday before the Yankees played Army at Rupert H. Johnson Stadium. “I understand that, that’s the easy thing to do. Our job is not to find an easy road. We might have some guys who are down but don’t count us out.’’

Andy Pettitte went a step further than Cashman.

“Apparently there are a whole lot of people doubting we are going to win any ballgames this year,’’ said Pettitte, who will start the third game of the season against the Red Sox. CC Sabathia draws the Opening Day assignment tomorrow. “I don’t let my mind go in that direction. I think we are going to win our division and I expect us to be in the World Series. I feel like we have the pitching and the bullpen to do that.’’

Most of naysayers point to Alex Rodriguez, Derek Jeter, Curtis Granderson and Mark Teixeira opening the season on the disabled list and possibly missing long stretches of time as the reasons for believing the Yankees will be looking up at the AL East leaders.

Of course, that’s not the way Pettitte sees it.

“People think we are going to be a little short scoring runs but we will figure out how to score runs, enough runs to win,’’ the veteran lefty said. “For me, I feel great about our club.’’

Sabathia isn’t using the doom and gloom as a motivational ploy.

“I was motivated before anybody got hurt to go out and win a championship,’’ Sabathia said. “I don’t think anybody pays attention to that stuff.’’

The Yankees have their fingers firmly crossed that Teixeira, Granderson and Jeter will not only return but be productive when they do. Really, anything they get out of Rodriguez, who could miss the entire season after hip surgery, is a bonus.

“We have to find a way to survive and thrive,’’ Cashman said.”That’s what good baseball teams do. Injuries occur whether they are in March or July or August. You have to find a way to survive and thrive, regardless. Our job is to do that. We have a lot of talent. The schedule is not going to wait for us. We have to go forward and fight and find a way.’’

Cashman understands people wanting to kick his club while it’s supposedly about to go over the cliff.

“We know our competition is fierce and tough and hungry. We have made a lot of enemies the past 20 or so years,’’ Cashman said. “People want to take advantage if we are down. Our job is to prove we are not down and we expect to do that.’’